On Saturday, hundreds of spectators and over 65 players showed up in support of the American Cancer Society and West Chester University Lacrosse Alumni Event.

The event raised thousands of dollars in support of former WCU and St. Joseph’s University head coach Pat Cullinan and assistant at Downingtown East who is fighting an illness. Thanks to the efforts of event organizer Pat Sheehe, the WCU alumni and community players and families were provided with a this great opportunity to support a meaningful cause, while rekindling old friendships and memories of days when West Chester University Lacrosse was a well-recognized NCAA program.

When reviewing the list of attendees and alumni from WCU, it became apparent that this was a program which has had a tremendous impact on the growth and improvement of Philadelphia lacrosse. As primarily a teacher institution, West Chester University groomed many of these former players with the skills, motivation and tools to create programs, run successful high school, college, community and club teams which have impacted countless athletes in our area and beyond.

West Chester University had a varsity program that began as a club in 1963 by Lloyd Wilkinson. The WCU Hall of Famer, Coach Wilkinson was present on Saturday with files, pictures and even the letter from 1968 when the program was officially recognized playing primarily a Division 1 schedule.

The program later joined the NCAA Division III and in 1985 was taken over by another coaching icon, Bob Brinton, who earlier has coached Henderson to a state title and also was a Penn assistant.

Under Coach Brinton, the team maintained the competitive schedule that had become the expectation for the Golden Ram squads. All throughout WCU history are stories of successful seasons defeating these top ranked D3 and even D1 opponents.

In 1993 WCU entered the newly formed NCAA Division II and shortly after became consistently ranked within the top teams in country. In 1999, longtime assistant coach, Pat Cullinan became the school’s third and final NCAA head coach in the programs’ nearly 40-year history. Coach “Pat”, as players lovingly refer to him, helped guide the program to many successful seasons and was a major reason WCU became more recognized within the NCAA lacrosse community.

In 2003, the University dropped the varsity status of Men’s Lacrosse along with Women’s gymnastics (which was reinstated one year later).

WCU has produced professional players, local club All-Stars and many top level players and coaches.

Below is a list of current and former head coaches. Unnamed are the countless assistants and youth coaches as well. This list may not even be complete, but can certainly demonstrate the vast reach of the WCU alumni. Many names below can be recognized as former and current legends within the Philly area lacrosse community.

This weekend’s event was a true testament to the fortitude, camaraderie and giving nature of all former Golden Ram players.

Current and former head coaches from WCU (may not be complete; e-mail us at golax@phillylacrosse.com with additions)